Cleaner faces murder charges as teacher's car found

Daniel BurdonDaniel Burdon is APN Australian Regional Media's Canberra bureau reporter, covering federal parliament and politics. He was previously a rural and general news reporter at the Morning Bulletin in Rockhampton and worked in Alice Springs for the Centralian Advocate.

Owen Jacques is an award-winning investigative journalist from Mackay, now based on the Sunshine Coast as APN Australian Regional Media’s Online News Editor. He has a strong background reporting on politics, business and breaking news. Owen has also specialised in resources reporting, which included a successful campaign to fight 100% fly-in, fly-out mining in rural Queensland towns.

Ms Scott disappeared on Easter Sunday, just six days before she was due to marry her fiance Aaron Leeson-Woolley in the NSW town of Leeton in the Riverina region.

Family and friends said it was "out of character" for the teacher, and a massive search was launched.

On Wednesday night, police arrested school cleaner Vincent Stanford who will now be charged with her murder.

Both Mr Stanford and Ms Scott worked at the Leeton High School.

The remains of Ms Scott are yet to be found.

Leeton Shire Mayor Paul Maytom told APN earlier today that the town was now grappling with a "terrible tragedy".

Rural NSW town reeling after schoolteacher murder

Stephanie ScottFacebook

THE small rural community of Leeton is still coming to grips with the devastating news that popular high school teacher Stephanie Scott was killed, after she disappeared four days ago.

Leeton Shire Council Mayor Paul Maytom told APN he hadn't yet left home when news of the "terrible tragedy" broke this morning.

Ms Scott had disappeared on Sunday after going to school to prepare for her wedding to her partner Aaron Leeson-Woolley this weekend and a 10-day honeymoon to Tahiti.

But after four days of searches, police late yesterday arrested 24-year-old high school cleaner Vincent Stanford, and were expected to charge him with murder ahead of a court hearing in Griffith today.

"The community were holding out hope the outcome would be different right up until the news this morning," Mr Maytom said.

"Stephanie was well-known and it's just been devastating news for the school, teachers and students and the whole community.

"I'm sure the community will bond together, but we've never had anything of this magnitude happen here."

Mr Maytom said Ms Scott had come to town as a high school teacher some years ago but had quickly become involved in sports and were very well known in the small Riverina town of about 11,000.

"Everyone I've spoken to since the news came through just couldn't believe it," he said.

"They were getting ready to marry and were young and had their whole life ahead of them.
"We have a great, safe town here and most people know each other in some way - we just feel so sad for both Stephanie and Aaron's family and friends."

EARLIER: Man, 24, to be charged with murder of NSW teacher

A 24-year-old man is now in the hands of police, and will be charged with the murder of New South Wales schoolteacher Stephanie Scott.

Ms Scott was last seen at Leeton High School, where she teaches, about 11am on Easter Sunday.

Her disappearance comes just six days before her wedding day this Saturday.

News Limited have named the man facing charges as Vincent Stanford, a cleaner at the school.

Police have told Fairfax Media that despite not recovering a body, they have found photographic evidence on a phone owned by the cleaner who was "assisting police with their inquiries" this morning.

After being reported missing on Monday, ABC reported her family and fiancé described the disappearance as "out of character".